Vans Old Skool 'Tapered - Lavender'
Colorway: Lavender/White · Style code: VN0A54F44U1 · Release date: April 5, 2021 · Price: $102 · Availability: Available now
More colorways: Liberty Fabrics x Vans Old Skool Tapered 'Patchwork Floral - Black Multi' (VN0A54F44TR) · Liberty Fabrics x Vans Old Skool Tapered 'Patchwork Floral' (VN0A54F44TV) · Liberty Fabrics x Vans Old Skool Tapered 'Patchwork Floral - Multi' (VN0A54F44TW) · Vans Old Skool Tapered Cali Sneakers (VN0A54F44U3) · Vans Old Skool Tapered 'Eco Theory - Black White Checkerboard' (VN0A54F4705)
Tapered is the version of this shoe with a slimmer forefoot, cut to sit closer to the foot than the standard last does, and a pale colour makes that change easier to see. Lavender canvas across the upper reads almost grey in low light and clearly purple in sun, which is a quality of the dye more than of the fabric. White handles the laces, the leather stripe and the tape around the sole, keeping the whole thing light rather than pastel-heavy.
It arrived on April 5, 2021, timed to the season it suits. Canvas in a light shade is the least durable combination in the range, since the fibre takes dirt readily and a pale dye hides nothing, so pairs like this tend to be worn dry and cleaned often. Everything structural stays put: the padded ankle collar, the reinforced toe, metal eyelets and the vulcanised sole with its waffle tread. Lavender is also one of the few shades here that works better scuffed than new.